Texans rookie Deshaun Watson to face aggressive Chiefs defense

Updated 2:02 pm, Thursday, October 5, 2017

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) runs the ball during the second quarter of an NFL football game at NRG Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Houston.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) runs the ball during the second quarter of an NFL football game at NRG Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws a pass against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter of an NFL football game at NRG Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Houston. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws a pass against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter of an NFL football game at NRG Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Houston. ( Brett Coomer /

﻿Rookie Deshaun Watson has shown he is capable of giving the Texans a shot to win since taking over for Tom Savage at quarterback in the second half of the season opener.

﻿Rookie Deshaun Watson has shown he is capable of giving the Texans a shot to win since taking over for Tom Savage at quarterback in the second half of the season opener.

Photo: Karen Warren, Staff

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Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) passes against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter of an NFL football game at NRG Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Houston.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) passes against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter of an NFL football game at NRG Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Texans rookie Deshaun Watson to face aggressive Chiefs defense

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Each week, Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson squares off with another defense designed to confuse him.

Over the past two games, the first-round draft pick from Clemson has been more than up to the challenge.

He delivered a pair of touchdown passes against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, a veteran defense coached by Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia.

Then, Watson had five total touchdowns against a Tennessee Titans defense engineered by legendary 80-year-old defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.

On Sunday night, Watson will match wits with the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium. The Chiefs' defense is coached by longtime defensive coordinator Bob Sutton.

“It’s a big-time challenge," Texans quaterbacks coach Sean Ryan said. "There’s going to be different fronts that he’s going to be looking at. To me, disguises and holding their looks and things like that are going to be a part of what every guy does to a rookie quarterback. I don’t care what he played like the week before, that’s going to be part of it. We know it.

"It’s kind of, in some ways, a little bit of that Rex Ryan tree that shows up a little bit where you’re getting some different types of pressures out of different personnel groupings. It’s a big challenge, like every week is in the NFL. Bob Sutton’s a very good coach and they’re a well-coached defense with a lot of talent over there. It’s going to take our best effort for sure.”

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Houston Chronicle sports writer John McClain looks at the production by Houston Texans starting Rookie QB Deshaun Watson and how he will measure up against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Media: R. Carter, Houston Chronicle

For Watson, who's on pace for 3,244 yards, 28 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions, it's a matter of staying ahead of the learning curve while orchestrating an offense that blends traditional pro-style concepts with collegiate style read option schemes.

"Just continue to get better," Watson said. "Try to get one percent better each and every day. Build on my craft. Watch film as much as I can and try to study them. At the end of the day, the film’s going to be out there and you just try to build on your strengths and your weaknesses. You just have to go out there and execute. At the end of the day, it’s a one-on-one matchup and who is going to win that matchup?”

The Chiefs' defense is headlined by Pro Bowl outside linebacker Justin Houston and Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters. Houston already has four sacks and Peters has one interception.

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“He’s a very good corner," Ryan said of Peters. "He’s got great ball skills and he’s a ballhawk, is what he is. He’s constantly got his eyes, even in man-coverage, he’s got a feel for where his man and his responsibility is, but his eyes are constantly on the quarterback, and if you’re not careful in knowing exactly where he is at all times, he can ruin a game. He’ll make plays on the ball. He’s a ballhawk for sure.”